The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-06-30
Try q Little.

The near approach of harvest and hay
time, says the Neans and Courier, has
moved that most successful farmer, Col.
J. Washington Watts, of Laurens, to
expound to his Observation-Disclosures in
the State the economy, and therefore the
the wisdom, of providing fully for the
winter by laying in stock OF long forage
for cattle. His letter on this subject was
published in the weekly Ne,cs ant Cou.
rier last week, and though not longer
than bulltongue ploughshare, contains
information that will enable every far.
mer, who shall profit by it, to tide over
several of the most trying months of the
year with the least expense for the care of
his stock.
Col. Watts points out that, as compar-
atively little corn is planted in South
Carolina and the oaL crop is expensive
and somewhat uncertain, it is necessary
to look to some other means to exc out
the small supply of corn.fodder. Among
the forage crops are mentioned rye, the
millet, the rag.weed and crab grass.
When rye is proposed to be planted for
forage it is recommended that it be sown
very thick in good land, and mown while
in bloom and cured as other hay. Col.
Watts has found that it makes very good
hay, and is relished by all kinGs of stock.
He esteems it "equal in feeding value to
''good timothy" The millets are all
commended whether fed in the green
state or as hay.
The most important matter in the let
ter of Col. Watts, however, is what he
says about the value of the familiar and
ordinarily despised or hated "rag.weed."
How blessed ought to be the condition of
that people whose lands bring forth
weeds excellently adapted for food for
their beasts, and that is precisely what
the soil of South Carolina does every
year, according to the testimony of one
of the best farmers in the State. Being
volunteer product, the rag.weed costs
much less than any other hay crop. but
"is not inferior in feeding value" to any
one of those before mentioned-rye, mil
let, timothy or crab grass. He urges
every farmer who is doubtful of the value
of the rag.weed hay to "try little," and
promises that fair trial will convince
the sceptic that SIT is the best hay for
the cost that can be found in the coun-
try" Certainly such assurance from so
high authority ought to be sufficient to
induce fair trial by every farmer in
South Carolina, and those who are dis
posed to make the experiment this sea.
son will welcome the following timely
instructions:
"When cut at the proper time, which
is while in bloom, and well cured, I
prize rag weed almost as much as good
clover hay. All kinds of stock eat it
with avidity, and it seems especially to
suit the horse. We never feed it to milk
COWS, as it imparts bitter taste to the
milk. 1t is cured like pea vines, though
it requires less time. Those about three
feet high make better hay than those of
larger growth. Cut them in the fore
noon, cock them in the afternoon, and
let them remain in the cock two or three
days, when they are ready for the barn,
and as soon as thoroughly cured should
be packed closely. In fact, this should
be done with all hay, as it gets too dry
when left loose and loses much of its
value. What skaters off in the barn
may be fed to sheep and goats. They
will regard it an especial treat"
Col. Watts has good word for crab
grass also. 1t, too, is volunteer, and is
very abundant, and very much the same
may be said of it that has been said of
the rag. weed. The caution is added that
the crab grass should be cut while in
bloom, the mistake ordinarily being that
it is suffered to turn brown before cutting,
in which condition it is of little value,
and horses will not eat it if they can help
themselves. The same caution is applied
to hay crops generally: call hay
grasses should be cut while in bloom,
and cured with as little exposure to the
sun as possible"
Probably the most pertinent comment
on Col. Watts letter is contained in his
own words about the rag.weed hay:
"Try little" Our farmers have fought
grasses and weeds a long time, and the
light must be renewed every year. 1t is
we'll worth while to test now the question,
whether these ancient enemies cannot be
converted into useful allies for the future
whether, in short, if weeds and grasses
must be killed, they cannot be killed in
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